Field Trip Friday: Sunken Gardens
February 01, 2013
Some weeks, just getting to Friday feels like an
accomplishment. Therefore, I’ve instituted Field Trip Friday—as a reward to
myself for working hard, and as a way to expand my awareness and appreciation
for where I live. (Do you find that you take your local attractions for
granted? I do.)
Last Friday, my partner in adventure Laure and I escaped to
another local garden,
Sunken Gardens St. Petersburg . (You can read Laure's post about our trip here.)
In 1903, George Turner, Sr., a plumber and avid gardener,
bought the site of the garden. Draining a shallow lake dropped the property 15
feet and provided the rich soil to grow exotic plants from all over the world
(and provided inspiration for the garden’s name). According to the Sunken
Gardens Sunken
Gardens St. Petersburg
purchased it.
The gardens contain more than 50,000 tropical plants and
flowers, as well as a few exotic birds, including flamingoes. Small ponds and
waterfalls, an orchid arbor, a Japanese garden, an amphitheater and a
meditation garden where yoga classes take place are just a few more of the
features packed into this little oasis in the middle of the city. A few photos (click photo for a larger view):
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| What is this? There was no identifying marker. |
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| Close-up of the fruit (?) |
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We finished our field trip with lunch at Fourth Street Shrimp Store Market and Restaurant and a stroll through
Haslam’s book store. (I bought only one book, showing
heroic self-control, don’t you think?)
I think Field Trip Friday will happen more often in 2013.
What better way to enjoy simple pleasures and everyday adventures than by
exploring and appreciating what I have locally, getting out of my normal rut routine, and just plain having fun?
What local attraction(s) have you been wanting to visit?
16 comments
Great post! I just posted on trip as well—great minds think alike!
ReplyDeleteI have been taking winter walks with friends. It is great to get out but I usually sketch when I return home because it is so cold out right now. Love seeing where you gals were. Will be interested in seeing your sketches when you get color on them.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely place to visit and sketch. Came from Laure's blog. Look forward to seeing your work painted.
ReplyDeleteYour unknown plant looks like it may be a pandams palm. We have them in costal areas in Australia. These gardens look a wonderful place to escape to, even better that you have a like minded soul to escape with. I also came from Laures blog.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a great time together. Thumbs up on your Friday field trip idea!! Great to see you sketching again too!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Laure--I just linked to your post in mine. Now I have to go add some color to my sketches!
ReplyDeleteLisa--We were lucky to have a beautiful day to sketch in. I don't think sketching in cold weather would be much fun! I'm planning to add color to my sketches this weekend, so hopefully I can post an update next week.
ReplyDeleteCris--Thanks so much for visiting. I plan to add color this weekend, and post an update next week.
ReplyDeleteWelcome, Liane. Glad you stopped by. It was a really nice outing--just what we needed. Thanks for the suggestion of what the tree might be...I'll go look it up.
ReplyDeleteClaire--Thanks for the words of encouragement. We had a great time, and hope to do more things like that. Now to go add some color to the sketches...
ReplyDeleteI've already seen Laure's post, so I knew you went together. How fun! I so wish I could have joined you two!! And field trip Friday sounds like a great idea!
ReplyDeleteNice photos, Kathy. Can't wait to see your sketches. I would have loved to be on your Friday Field Trip. I love that idea.
ReplyDeleteCheryl--We would have loved to have had you with us. Why don't we all institute Field Trip Friday and report back on our adventures? :)
ReplyDeleteClare--Thanks. I worked on the sketches last night but I was so tired I only got two of them (mostly) done. Will keep working on them, though.
ReplyDeleteLike I told Cheryl, why don't we all do Field Trip Friday and report back? :)
What a beautiful place, and yes, I take so many of our local attractions for granted. After 12 years, I haven't been to the historical museum in Bend yet, or the Sunriver Observatory. Or local waterfalls. This summer I will.
ReplyDeleteI love your idea of field trip Friday.
Kathy M.
Kathy--Field Trip Friday is proving to be very popular! Sounds like you have a few nice attractions to visit come summer. You'll have to write about them on your blog.
ReplyDelete